If your child uses YouTube, you may worry about them seeing inappropriate content.
YouTube has now introduced a new AI tool to help prevent this.
This tool works with YouTube’s age estimation feature to better identify accounts belonging to users under 18.
By doing so, it prevents adult content from being suggested to minors.
The AI determines whether an account is used by a child or an adult based on activity patterns, and then recommends videos accordingly.
Google has also decided to implement restrictions on underage accounts to make the platform safer for minors.
How Users Are Experiencing the Change
According to 9To5Google, several Reddit users reported receiving pop-up messages that their account settings had been changed.
These messages indicated age verification failed, and the AI could not confirm the user’s age.
YouTube had previously announced plans to identify underage accounts to stop minors from creating accounts with false age information.
The new AI tool now differentiates between minors and adults based on account activity, preventing accidental exposure to adult content.
How the AI Tool Works
If the AI detects a minor is using the account, it automatically adjusts the account to restricted minor settings.
If an adult account is mistakenly restricted, users can restore it by verifying their age.
To verify, users may need to upload a birth certificate, government ID, selfie, or credit card details.
The AI checks activity data, video searches, viewing patterns, and age at account creation to determine account status.
YouTube’s Response
YouTube has acknowledged reports of adult accounts mistakenly being converted to minor accounts.
Affected users can restore their adult status by uploading verification documents.
If verification fails, the account will remain a minor account, restricting access to adult content permanently.
